Shortage of doctors in Lower Austria

In which hospital there will soon be no more births

Because there are too few specialists, a maternity ward in Lower Austria is being closed.(Bild: lisamathis.at)

Tense staffing situation in the hospital with consequences: In a regional hospital in the Mostviertel region, gynecology and obstetrics will now have to close. Recently, external specialists have had to help out time and again to keep the service running. On March 24, it will finally be over.  

Waidhofen an der Ybbs will no longer appear in documents as a place of birth. This is because from March 24, the services of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the hospital in the Mostviertel statutory town will be discontinued. The staffing situation in this specialist area has already been extremely tense for ten years. Two years ago, the ward had to be closed at short notice.

Hospital filed a risk report
Most recently, the hospital management was forced to take even more drastic measures: The management and works council submitted a risk report including an overload report to the State Health Agency (LGA). Operations in the department could only be maintained through the regular deployment of external staff.

The hospital in Waidhofen an der Ybbs will soon have to manage without gynecology and obstetrics.(Bild: LK Waidhofen/Ybbs)

"It is almost impossible to create a duty roster with such limited staff resources. Especially in view of the main holiday periods," says the LGA. There was therefore no alternative to the decision to close the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department in Waidhofen an der Ybbs.

Safety for babies and mothers
After all, the safety of babies and mothers is paramount. "In the regional clinics, a specialist must be present at every birth," emphasizes the LGA. However, this could no longer be guaranteed in Waidhofen an der Ybbs in future. Especially as it is generally difficult to find gynecologists - especially for a hospital with a relatively low occupancy rate.

We have been looking for specialist staff in Waidhofen an der Ybbs for years, but have not been able to find enough.

Landesrat Ludwig Schleritzko (ÖVP)

The unsuccessful search for personnel is also confirmed by Ludwig Schleritzko, the provincial councillor responsible for the hospitals. However, he emphasizes: "The state health agency has the task of ensuring that every expectant mother in our state continues to receive the best possible care." In the Mostviertel region, this is guaranteed with the clinics in Amstetten, Scheibbs and Melk.

SPÖ: "Ward must be preserved!"
Harsh criticism of the imminent closure of the hospital ward in Waidhofen an der Ybbs comes from the SPÖ. State Health Councillor Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig criticizes the "lack of an overall plan for hospital care" in Lower Austria: "Once again, healthcare in rural areas is being undermined in a single action." Party Chairman Sven Hergovich sums up the position of the Social Democrats: "The maternity ward in Waidhofen an der Ybbs must be preserved!"